As always one is to watch for the FRUITS of the spirit—not the claims of faith. Words are just that, words. Christ said in John that we are to love one another, so is that being expressed by the person or persons? Claims all aside (many claim it is love that compells them to rail against others) it is that which will finally unveil the answer. Then it is up to us not to respond to a deceptive or non-Christian character.

Just because one engages, there is nothing that compells us to engage or interact with a non-Christian character. We may feel that we should out of politeness, but it is not a requirement, and on many occassions Christ did not. Remember about the adulteress brought before Him? Some things are used to entrap us or condemn and judge us.

We need not respond.

Asking directly about denomination means little. Many non-Christians sit in the pews, as well as, man who are Christian do. A Denomination does not speak to faith, only to the style of worship and manmade dogma that separate them one from another. It is the man or woman who has to establish their relationship to God in Christ, and in doing so we can see their fruits. Some will falter, some will not even try, but the fruits will be evident.

The other criteria of following Christ is discipleship. Christ did not command to go out into the world and convert it, He said go out into the world and make disciples. So what is that? A disciple is person who “disciplines themselves to the teachings of a Master”. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, but just as relevant is that He is our Master, if so be that we truly follow Him. And this is a requirement to all Christians, not to just believe as the demons do, but to live accordingly to the Promises under Grace.

We should do no less.

But there are those who refuse to do that. OSAS and other doctrines are not found in the Bible, claiming them as your foundation is not claiming Christ as your foundation. Salvation is a gift, Christ is our Master. So we should not be following anything other than Him. And again, if a person is not doing this it will be evident in all they say, do, thinks and feel. It will be an expression of who they are.

Faith expresses our actions, not the other way around.

So do we need to ask? No. As you will receive an answer the person will feel is appropriate to show a certain level of faith and Christianity. Many are those who claim faith in God, fewer still who actually live and have that faith. There is much to say here, but I will leave be.

So what about us?

We do the work of keeping the door open to God. That He may come in and work in, and thru, His kids. It tells us we are to have the mind of Christ, the deeds of faith, and the love for God and our fellow men that fulfills all things in us (yes, this speaks to the Laws AND the promises). So we are then reflecting our son/daughtership in God through Christ.

He spoke to this in Luke 9:23, that IF we are to follow Him (Christ) then we must do 3 things: deny ourselves (the carnal man), take up our cross daily (overcoming the sinful nature and meeting the sinful world with truth and light), and follow Him (sacrifice, courage and love among many other things!). This tells us that being “Christian” is about discipleship. If don’t do ALL the things Christ bespoke then we are failing in our walk of faith. Grace covers us if the heart is striving and flesh falters, but it is not a carte blanche to do what we desire and put God on the back burner of our lives.

This then becomes our “living” prayer and example of who, and whose’s, we are—God’s own. Then the example of our lives becomes a living, breathing testimony that touchs others’ lives. It shows them that faith in God has real and tangible results. That sitting in a pew and then living as the world lives, is NOT Christianity. We must be 24X7 Christians and focused on Him. Then the words we share have an impact because of the actions of our lives support them.

Faith without works is dead.

Some are called to preach, some to teach, some to evangelize, and some to be “just” a living “word” of God that may be the only Bible others may read! Then, and only then, our deeds become magnified by the Grace of God. Then, and only then, our words speak truth. Then, and only then, we have a credibility that can not be assailed or dismissed. In this we find that we have fulfilled God’s laws, shared Grace, and walk in the Promises. As Paul said “after having done all, stand!”…. stand on God, His words, His unctions and His promises.

This the only way one has the power of their faith in their lives—all else is vain.

And people see this. Too many are those who live “self” righteously instead of righteously, and the world sees that too. They will quickly point this out. But we can not be a testimony to everyone, because we are not the power that opens their eyes to see, and their hearts to know. That is God’s job. So many will hear, many will see and still not be able to understand. But our calling and election is to do the things we are called to do in our own lives.

The testimony is God’s, the door is us.

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace,

Jonathan

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